YAK TRACKS: YAK-toberfest Surprise - "Bulls Go Wild!"

From the Round Barn's kitchen, and chef Charlie Menard:

"Last night, we had the Art Show Opening at the Round Barn, I served a Yak-toberfest appetizer.

A roasted Hartshorn potato round, topped with Yak Bratwurst, braised cabbage, apples and sour cream -Yum!"

Yum indeed. Thanks for yet another remarkable recipe idea, Charlie!

The yaks are kicking up their heels,

Rob

YAK TRACKS: Boyden Valley Winery Meets Vermont Yak Company

I haven't enjoyed a sit down four course three hour meal in a long time.

And I have NEVER done so at an eatery like the Common Man, with an exclusively Localvore food focus.

Here's the Boyden Valley winery team describing their Big Barn red, which the chefs paired with our braised yak.

What a meal. What a night.

YAK TRACKS: Eat Local! Wine-Braised Yak at the Common Man

September in Mad River Valley brings the one week "Eat Local" Challenge - can we exclusively eat foods grown or produced within a 100 mile radius of our homes?

Here's Keith at the Common Man restaurant talking about his Localvore food menu for the week, including (are you sitting down?), Boyden Valley Winery's Big Barn Red leveraged for a wine-braised yak. Zoinks.

Our two kids - Anneka and Theron - packed yak chili for school lunch today.

It's gonna be a good week.

YAK TRACKS: Welcome to our first royal yak calf!

Exciting news at the farm.

One of our royal cows - Yingyang - gave birth to a new calf in the wee hours of the morning.

Here's a look at the new rascal, probably 5 or 6 hours old at this point.

YAK TRACKS: WINING with YAK

So what kinds of wine go well with yak?

I had no idea, but fortunately, our neighbor Joerg Klauck of Vermont Wine Merchants knows just about everything there is to know about wine, including what berries might fit with the unique taste of yak.

Here he is at an August 2008 farmer's market, waxing rhapsodic about a "Pinotage" variety, as well as some other suggestions.

Kate and I tried a 2006 Pinotage with our yak this past week - it proved phenomenal.